Phase 3 Latest Information
Throughout the project, we will be providing updates on the progress of the project. Check back for the latest information. If you would like to be added to our construction updates, please provide your contact information on the Contact Us page.
Residents with questions can contact:
Brigitte Berger, PE (Village Director of Public Works and Engineering) at bergerb@wilmette.com or 847-853-7500
Darren Olson, PE (Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd.) at dolson@cbbel.com or 847-823-0500
Lisa Brock, P.E. (HMG Engineers), Phase 3 Project Liaison, at lbrock@hmgengineers.com or 847-323-3602
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
Teachers, Parents and Students, Welcome Back!
Here’s what to expect the first week of school:
Harper School Information
There is no change to traffic patterns for Harper parents and caregivers dropping off and picking up students. Hunter Road (north of Lake) will be open to traffic and the car pool line on Dartmouth will be open and accessible from Kenilworth Avenue. There is also no impact to students walking and biking to school. Students should follow the safe route to school walking map, which is Hunter Road to Greenwood. Watch for signage, flaggers and crossing guards to assist students along the walking route.
Please note that due to ongoing construction activity, Thornwood Avenue, between Hunter Road and Dartmouth will be closed to through traffic and pedestrians. This closure will be in place through November.
Highcrest School Information
Hunter Road, north of Lake Avenue is open for traffic and pedestrians. Hunter Road, south of Lake Avenue, will be open to southbound traffic only. Northbound traffic will be detoured. There is also a left turn restriction for southbound Hunter Road from Lake Avenue. Students walking and biking to school should use the sidewalks on Hunter Road. There will be flaggers and crossing guards to assist students along the route.
For more “Back to School” information for Harper and Highcrest Schools, click here
Additional Project Information
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All traffic lanes on Hunter Road and at the Lake Avenue intersection are expected to open the week of August 29.
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TRAFFIC ALERT: On Saturday, August 20, all local traffic should avoid Hunter Road (north of Lake). The contractor will be placing the first layer of asphalt. Please note the contractor may start early to beat the rain in the forecast.
Back to School Plan
The construction team is working hard to get the roads, parking and sidewalks back open and safe in preparation for the fall school session which begins on August 22. Barring weather or unforeseen circumstances, here is a summary of where the project is headed:
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Hunter Road will be one lane southbound only when school starts.
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Sidewalk on the east side of Hunter will be safe and available for pedestrians and school children.
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Lake Avenue traffic will be open, however, turning movements will be restricted until the week of August 29.
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Dartmouth: On-street angled parking from the construction entrance/exit to the intersection with Thornwood is expected to be restored by end of September. Parking north of the access will be open and available to the public when school starts.
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Dartmouth sidewalk will be open and construction driveway will be protected with a flagger.
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Dartmouth car pool line will be unimpeded during school drop off and pick up times.
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Flagger, fencing and signage at Thornwood and Hunter intersection will direct students to use Greenwood to access Harper School. Greenwood is the official school walking route.
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Thornwood from Dartmouth to Hunter will be closed to through traffic beginning end of August through November.
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Thornwood from Dartmouth to Illinois Road—on-street parking (south side of street only) will be available for use, except for the first few spots closest to the Dartmouth intersection.
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Once school is back in session, no heavy truck traffic into or out of Thornwood Park using the Dartmouth or Thornwood driveways during school drop off and pick up times.
Please help us get the word out! If you know of a neighbor who may not be computer savvy, please contact Director of Engineering and Public Works, Brigitte Berger-Raish (847-853-7627 or bergerb@wilmette.com) and provide their address or contact information, so we can reach out to them. Thank you!
July 2022
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All Stage 1 streets are substantially completed! A sincere thank you to all of the residents for your understanding and patience as we worked to complete this important flood control project.
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Lake Avenue at Hunter Road will remain in its current configuration with one lane in each direction and restricted left turns for the next three weeks.
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Coming in late August, traffic on Hunter Road from Schiller to Lake Avenue will be restricted. Through traffic will be detoured to Wilmette Avenue/Ridge Road or Illinois Road. Additional information will be forthcoming.
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Beginning Monday, August 1, the intersection of Hunter Road and Thornwood Avenue (west leg) will be closed for approximately 10 days. All traffic will be detoured around this intersection.
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Road restoration on Hunter Road between Iroquois and Elmwood is beginning on Monday, August 1. This includes intermittent sidewalk removal and replacement. Please watch for signage and use caution through the work zone.
PAVING SCHEDULED FOR STAGE 1 STREETS
Hunter (north end), Beechwood, 21st, Washington and Highland
Asphalt prime coat is scheduled to be installed on Tuesday, July 26, followed by paving of the final surface on Wednesday, July 27. A notice has been delivered to all impacted residents with detailed instructions on parking and access for the two paving days.
LAKE and HUNTER UPDATE
The storm sewer work in the intersection has been delayed as a result of unanticipated utility conflicts. NICOR has removed an abandoned gas main and AT&T utilities have been relocated to allow installation of the new storm sewers. Berger Excavating will start installing storm sewer structures on the north side of the intersection on Monday, July 25th. The existing traffic pattern will be in place for the next several weeks. Pedestrians and bicyclists should follow flagger directions when traveling through the intersection during the work day.
Beechwood, 21st, Hunter (north end), Washington and Highland:
Final paving date to be scheduled later this month. Advanced notice will be provided to residents several days in advance of final asphalt paving.
Stage 1: Washington/Highland:
Paving is cancelled for this week and may be rescheduled for later next week, weather permitting.
Lake and Hunter Intersection
June 2022
Lake and Hunter Intersection - HUNTER NORTH CLOSED 6/28
On June 28, Berger Excavating will install a new traffic pattern on Lake Avenue starting a few blocks east of Hunter to a few blocks west of Hunter, reducing Lake Avenue traffic to one lane in each direction. These traffic restrictions are necessary to complete large storm sewer connections from the north side of Lake Avenue south through the intersection and then south along Hunter. We anticipate the north half of the intersection will be closed for approximately 4 weeks, with no northbound access onto Hunter. Residents may use alternate routes to access Hunter Road from Iroquois Road or Elmwood Avenue.
During this 4-week period, Berger Excavating will remove the existing pavement, relocate water main, install large storm sewers, and restore the pavement. When the north side work is completed, traffic will shift to the north lanes of Lake Avenue and Hunter Road northbound will reopen. An update will be provided prior to the contractor continuing the sewer work on the south side of the intersection.
Please note the following important information:
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Residents affected by the water main work will receive a notification 48 hours in advance of the water disruption; that work is tentatively planned for June 30th.
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The Police and Fire Departments have been notified of the planned work and are prepared to use alternate routes to service your neighborhood without delay.
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Waste Management will reroute trucks to ensure that garbage pickup is not disrupted.
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PACE will bypass their stops at Lake & Hunter. Please refer to their website for the nearest available stop.
Lake and Hunter Intersection
Preliminary work at the intersection of Hunter and Lake is anticipated to take place the week of 6/20. Residents may expect daily lane closures and short term delays on Hunter Road north of Lake Avenue. This preliminary work is not expected to impact thru traffic on Lake Avenue. A new traffic pattern on Lake Avenue is expected the week of 6/27, narrowing lanes to one way in each direction. Access to Hunter Road north of Lake Avenue will be closed for a few weeks until crews complete the large storm sewer connection.
Thornwood Park Live Camera Link is up and running!
https://app.truelook.com/?u=bw1653570622
And if you would like to visit Thornwood Park in person to watch the construction progress, there is a viewing area on the north side of the park by the playground.
Neighborhood Storage Project
Summer Preview
The contract for the Neighborhood Storage Project was developed to maximize construction work during the summer months when school is out. The last day of school is around the corner, so here is what residents can expect the next few weeks:
STAGE 2: Hunter and Lake intersection
June 11: Storm sewer work begins. Watch for changes in lane configurations, turn restrictions and detours. Expect delays traveling through this intersection.
STAGE 3: Thornwood Park
June 14: Vault excavation begins. Expect heavy truck traffic on Thornwood and Illinois Roads.
STAGE 4: Hunter Road (Elmwood to Thornwood)
June 10: Prep work including saw cutting the pavement, installation of tree protection fencing and tree canopy and root pruning.
June 14: Berger Excavating will begin installing the new storm sewer on Hunter at Elmwood and will work northward. This work requires deep excavations so intermittent daily road closures will be required. Hunter Road will reopen at the end of each work day unless otherwise posted.
STAGE 4: Greenwood (Hunter Road to 21st Street)
June 6: Prep work including saw cutting the pavement, installation of tree protection fencing and tree canopy and root pruning. Storm sewer installation will follow the week of June 20.
STAGE 5: Thornwood Avenue (Dartmouth to Hunter)
June 10: Prep work including tree protection and pavement saw cutting followed by sanitary service replacements. This work requires deep excavations so intermittent daily road closures will be required. Residents with driveway impacts will be notified in advance.
May 2022
Thornwood Park Work to Begin May 31
Beginning, Tuesday, May 31, Berger Excavating will begin work in the park with low impact activities like installing the construction fence, performing tree protection and site security. Berger’s work will not interfere with students walking or biking to school or school drop-off and pick-up traffic. On June 10, after school is out, the contractor will start excavation work which will include heavy truck traffic on Thornwood Avenue. For questions contact Lisa Brock, Project Liaison, lbrock@hmgengineers.com, 847-323-3602.
Beginning Friday, May 27, traffic signal work at the Hunter Road and Lake Avenue Intersection will begin and continue through next week. Expect minor delays as the contractor works to install temporary traffic signals in preparation for storm sewer installation in a few weeks.
April 2022
NSP Stage 2 Coming Soon!
Berger Excavating will being mobilizing on Schiller on May 2. Early construction activities include tree protection, tree pruning, signage and construction layout. Excavation for the new storm sewer could begin as early as May 5 or 6, weather permitting. The construction will start at Hunter and proceed east. For questions on Stage 2 activities, please contact Lisa Brock, Project Liaison, 847-323-3602, lbrock@rhmg.com or Bill Schultz, Resident Engineer, 847-417-7052, wschultz@cbbel.com.
NSP Stage 2 Coming Soon!
The second stage of the stormwater project will begin on Schiller Avenue on May 2. The project team will drop off additional information to impacted homes next week.
Washington and Highland Avenues Construction Progress Update
Work on Washington continues to be delayed as a result of a conflict with AT&T. A contractor for AT&T will be on-site Monday to excavate their copper line and move it out of the way in preparation for the sewer work. Work on Highland will begin on Monday with pavement removal followed by excavating and setting manholes at the east end. School District 39 buses will be rerouted away from Highland starting Monday, April 11th.
Washington and Highland Avenues Construction Progress Update
The contractor saw cut pavement and delivered equipment and materials in anticipation of construction starting next week. On Monday, April 4th the contractor will perform root pruning and finish the saw cutting. Excavation work will begin on Tuesday, April 5th. School District 39 buses will be rerouted away from Highland starting Monday, April 11th.
March 2022
Washington and Highland Avenues Construction Progress Update
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Comcast did not complete the fiber optic line on Washington this week due to inclement weather.
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They plan to complete the line installation early next week, followed by installation of the new individual service lines.
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Please note that Comcast plans to perform the service line connections at night to avoid outages.
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The Village’s contractor plans to start work on storm sewers on Washington April 4th, presuming all Comcast work has been completed.
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School District 39 buses will be rerouted away from Highland starting Monday, April 11th, after spring break.
Project Update - 2/11/2022
Prior to the March 1st start of Stage 1 of the NSP - Phase 3 project, Nicor and ComEd continue working to upgrade, add or relocate gas and electric facilities in the neighborhood around Thornwood Park.
Nicor
This week, Nicor completed installation of new gas mains on Beechwood and Washington and began gas main installation on Hunter and Greenwood. New gas service installation is underway on Washington and will begin next week on Beechwood. Gas service work on Hunter and Greenwood will begin after the gas main work is complete.
Nicor distributed a notice to residents that will have their gas services impacted by this work. No gas service outages are planned except on the day that each resident will have their new service connected. Nicor will contact residents directly to schedule the service transfer work.
If you have questions about the gas service transfers, please call Lisa or Brigitte.
ComEd
ComEd has already installed cable on Thornwood Avenue for the new electric service to the Thornwood Park pump station to be constructed this summer. ComEd is scheduled to complete the service line work over spring break to avoid a necessary outage at Harper while school is in session.
Next week, ComEd’s subcontractor, Intren, will begin work along Hunter from Elmwood to north of Thornwood, to relocate a cable. They will also start work later next week on the relocation of the utility pole at the southwest corner of Hunter and Thornwood. Residents along Hunter will receive a notice directly from ComEd, due to be mailed Feb. 11th. No power outages are planned during this work.
Sidewalk and Parkway Restoration
The Village will work with Nicor and ComEd to coordinate the appropriate method of restoration for any impacted sidewalks and parkways. Sidewalks and parkways scheduled to be replaced in the ensuing weeks as part of the stormwater project will be made safe and accessible in the interim.
January 2022
PLEASE JOIN US!
Neighbors impacted by the project are invited to join the project team for one-on-one remote meetings to be held on Tuesday,
February 8 from 10:00 AM to noon and 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. To RSVP and reserve your time slot, please contact Georgia Mihalopoulos at 847.853.7601 or Mihalopoulosg@wilmette.com.
The Village is happy to announce that the Phase 3 Construction contract was awarded to Berger Excavating. This is the same contractor that completed the Phase 1 Project at Community Playfield. Construction is scheduled to begin on March 1, 2022. More information will be provided to residents in the area, including the opportunity for in-person and virtual meetings with the Village and engineers. See the Resources Page for more information regarding the contract award.
August 2021
Save the Date
September 8, 2021
Resident Meeting for Phase 3 of the Neighborhood Storage Project at Thornwood Park Project
Residents are invited to attend the third public meeting for Phase 3 of the Neighborhood Storage Project to be held on Wednesday, September 8 at Thornwood Park. The meeting is an open house, so please feel free to visit our tent in the park anytime between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM.
Planned for 2022, Phase 3 includes construction of an underground stormwater storage reservoir at Thornwood Park and neighborhood storm sewer improvements.
June 2021
June 7, 2021
Resident Meeting Exhibits
May 2021
Save the Date
June 7, 2021
Neighborhood Storage Project - Phase 3 at Thornwood Park
Please join staff and consultants to discuss Phase 3 of the Neighborhood Storage Project at Thornwood Park and get all of your questions answered. To help ensure the safety of project staff and residents, the meeting will be held in several small groups. Please RSVP to let us know your time preference.
What: Neighborhood Meeting in Thornwood Park
When: Monday, June 7, 2021
Time: 4 PM to 6 PM
Format: Small group meetings of 20 people or less scheduled in 20-minute increments
RSVP: pubworks@wilmette.com or 847.853.7500
March 2021
A virtual public meeting to discuss the project and obtain resident feedback prior to detailed design has been scheduled for March 24th at 6:30pm via zoom. Please follow the link below to register for the event.
When: March 24, 2021 - 6:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Wilmette Neighborhood Storage Project: Thornwood Park and Associated Storm Sewers - Initial Public Meeting
Register in Advance for this Webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RORMuIfeSE6PQs_9Xsq7bQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Final Presentation and Q & A:
January 2021
This Phase of the project is currently under design. Please sign up for updates under the Contact Us page if you would like to be included on design updates. The project schedule is included on the Phase 3 Resources page.
